# First recordings of dangerous sonic noise that sickened people in Cuba. **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [October 13, 2017, 12:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/first-recordings-of-dangerous-sonic-noise-that-sickened-people-in-cuba/798689 "2017-10-13T00:07:43Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2017, 12:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/first-recordings-of-dangerous-sonic-noise-that-sickened-people-in-cuba/798689/1 "2017-10-13T00:07:43Z")
I’m a bit perplexed by this story. Staff at Cuba’s embassy were sickened by this noise. I listened to the recording and I can’t imagine tolerating it for long. Why didn’t the embassy immediately call in people with equipment to isolate it and find the source? State Dept could get help from many sources like the military or intelligence agencies. The article I quoted says the investigation is inconclusive. I’ve worked in electronics most of my adult life. I’ve used frequency generators and owned an oscilloscope for many years. Any signal can be detected, recorded and studied. Whoever is doing this may have turned off their transmitter while the official team investigated. But you can give staff special recorders to carry and use when they hear the noise. A device could warn staff of noises just outside their range of hearing. Early story on the sound and effects on embassy staff. Some people have hearing loss. > **[Illnesses at U.S. Embassy in Havana Prompt Evacuation of More Diplomats...](https://www.nytimes.com/2017/09/29/us/politics/us-embassy-cuba-attacks.html)** > > Secretary of State Rex W. Tillerson repeated the American assertion that embassy personnel were deliberately targeted. But he did not blame Cuba. Recording of the sound. I wonder if white noise would counter it? I’d certainly wear earplugs if I had to work or live with that sound. The high pitch is very annoying. Probably coming from a sweep generator and then modified. [https://www.google.com/amp/www.nydailynews.com/amp/news/national/hear-sonic-weapon-americans-heard-cuba-attacks-article-1.3558650](https://www.google.com/amp/www.nydailynews.com/amp/news/national/hear-sonic-weapon-americans-heard-cuba-attacks-article-1.3558650) > [@](#): > > For some, the injuries appear permanent, with symptoms including hearing loss, dizziness, tinnitus, balance and visual problems, headache, fatigue, cognitive issues and difficulty sleeping. But despite an intensive investigation by the F.B.I., the cause and perpetrators of the attacks remain a mystery. > > Some of those affected reported hearing odd sounds in particular rooms of their homes, leading some experts to speculate that some kind of sonic weapon or faulty surveillance device may have been at fault. > > “Just looking at the symptoms, it sounds like they’ve all had traumatic brain injuries like a concussion or a series of minor head injuries even though we know they haven’t,” said Dr. Martin Gizzi, a neurologist in Portland, Ore., who is a fellow of the American Academy of Neurology. ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2017, 12:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/first-recordings-of-dangerous-sonic-noise-that-sickened-people-in-cuba/798689/2 "2017-10-13T00:15:02Z")
The Cubans are cooperating in the investigation. I don’t think they are behind it. They didn’t have to agree to renew diplomatic ties to the US a few years ago. Someone wants to drive a new wedge between the US and Cuba. Perhaps the Russians, Putin? This is exactly the kind of weapon the old KGB loved. ---
**Author:** ![dropzone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dropzone/32/7515_2.png) [@dropzone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dropzone)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2017, 1:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/first-recordings-of-dangerous-sonic-noise-that-sickened-people-in-cuba/798689/3 "2017-10-13T01:09:27Z")
> [@aceplace57's link](#): > > … hearing loss, dizziness, tinnitus, balance and visual problems, headache, fatigue, cognitive issues and difficulty sleeping … Already there! I can only hear it with my right ear, and it’s only annoying. At a lower volume it could be blocked out by the earplugs I wear at night, anyway. However, if Prog Rock has taught us anything it’s to [use your wheels; it is what they are for.](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LwRvWpsiM2w) And now with more Brian Blessed, because everything needs more Brian Blessed: [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a8pGS4cWbHo](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a8pGS4cWbHo) ---
**Author:** ![Hari\_Seldon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hari_seldon/32/5173_2.png) [@Hari\_Seldon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hari_Seldon)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2017, 1:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/first-recordings-of-dangerous-sonic-noise-that-sickened-people-in-cuba/798689/4 "2017-10-13T01:21:11Z")
I could not hear a thing. I have moderate hearing loss at medium high frequencies and probably serious loss at high frequencies. I used to be able to hear the 15,750 Hz of a TV turned on anywhere in the house, but that has long since disappeared. I agree it seems much likelier to be Russian than Cuban doing. ---
**Author:** ![Velocity](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/velocity/32/18006_2.png) [@Velocity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Velocity)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2017, 1:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/first-recordings-of-dangerous-sonic-noise-that-sickened-people-in-cuba/798689/5 "2017-10-13T01:26:08Z")
So if it’s dangerous to diplomats and staff to hear it in person, why isn’t it dangerous to hear via YouTube? ---
**Author:** ![dropzone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dropzone/32/7515_2.png) [@dropzone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dropzone)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2017, 1:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/first-recordings-of-dangerous-sonic-noise-that-sickened-people-in-cuba/798689/6 "2017-10-13T01:30:25Z")
If the weapon uses infrasound or ultrasound (too low or too high), YouTube doesn’t waste bandwidth on what its viewers can’t consciously hear. ---
**Author:** ![Gatopescado](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gatopescado/32/5711_2.png) [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2017, 1:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/first-recordings-of-dangerous-sonic-noise-that-sickened-people-in-cuba/798689/7 "2017-10-13T01:34:16Z")
Rap? ---
**Author:** ![kanicbird](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/5f8ce5/32.png) [@kanicbird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kanicbird)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2017, 2:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/first-recordings-of-dangerous-sonic-noise-that-sickened-people-in-cuba/798689/8 "2017-10-13T02:04:56Z")
> [@Hari\_Seldon](#): > > I could not hear a thing. I have moderate hearing loss at medium high frequencies and probably serious loss at high frequencies. I used to be able to hear the 15,750 Hz of a TV turned on anywhere in the house, but that has long since disappeared. > > I agree it seems much likelier to be Russian than Cuban doing. Russian or Trump, or is that the same thing now. ---
**Author:** ![Merneith](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/57b2e6/32.png) [@Merneith](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Merneith)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2017, 3:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/first-recordings-of-dangerous-sonic-noise-that-sickened-people-in-cuba/798689/9 "2017-10-13T03:05:04Z")
> [@dropzone](#): > > If the weapon uses infrasound or ultrasound (too low or too high), YouTube doesn’t waste bandwidth on what its viewers can’t consciously hear. On the other hand - if it is an infra- or ultra- sound weapon, why aren’t more people injured? Those aren’t exactly precision tools. ---
**Author:** ![dropzone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dropzone/32/7515_2.png) [@dropzone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dropzone)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2017, 3:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/first-recordings-of-dangerous-sonic-noise-that-sickened-people-in-cuba/798689/10 "2017-10-13T03:17:28Z")
No, they aren’t, which is why I assume it’s all made up, but conspiracy theories can be fun for a while. ---
**Author:** ![Velocity](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/velocity/32/18006_2.png) [@Velocity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Velocity)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2017, 3:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/first-recordings-of-dangerous-sonic-noise-that-sickened-people-in-cuba/798689/11 "2017-10-13T03:41:38Z")
> [@dropzone](#): > > If the weapon uses infrasound or ultrasound (too low or too high), YouTube doesn’t waste bandwidth on what its viewers can’t consciously hear. So YouTube’s audio is only designed to accommodate audio of a particular spectrum, and if someone posts, say, a recording of a bat using ultrasound, the YouTube “equipment” just acts as if it does not exist? ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2017, 3:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/first-recordings-of-dangerous-sonic-noise-that-sickened-people-in-cuba/798689/12 "2017-10-13T03:53:17Z")
Well, the NY Daily News article no longer has the audio. The article I linked is still there. Gizmodo has the audio. [https://www.google.com/amp/s/gizmodo.com/listen-to-the-sound-that-us-diplomats-heard-when-attack-1819412028/amp](https://www.google.com/amp/s/gizmodo.com/listen-to-the-sound-that-us-diplomats-heard-when-attack-1819412028/amp) I agree this a very localized device. Hidden in the building or perhaps on a outside wall. It’s probably radio controlled. So it can be remotely activated and shut off. ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2017, 3:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/first-recordings-of-dangerous-sonic-noise-that-sickened-people-in-cuba/798689/13 "2017-10-13T03:57:53Z")
> [@Velocity](#): > > So YouTube’s audio is only designed to accommodate audio of a particular spectrum, and if someone posts, say, a recording of a bat using ultrasound, the YouTube “equipment” just acts as if it does not exist? Yes, audio amplifiers have filters to remove unneeded low and high frequencies. High frequencies often create an annoying hiss. Low frequencies create a Rumble sound. Turntables used to create that rumble. The preamp stage in your phone filters and digitizes the audio before it reaches the circuit that records it. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2017, 4:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/first-recordings-of-dangerous-sonic-noise-that-sickened-people-in-cuba/798689/14 "2017-10-13T04:29:35Z")
> [@Velocity](#): > > So YouTube’s audio is only designed to accommodate audio of a particular spectrum, and if someone posts, say, a recording of a bat using ultrasound, the YouTube “equipment” just acts as if it does not exist? Don’t think that’s specific to YouTube. As far as I know, all the compression algorithms for audio dump all the stuff that is beyond human hearing ranges. ---
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2017, 5:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/first-recordings-of-dangerous-sonic-noise-that-sickened-people-in-cuba/798689/15 "2017-10-13T05:03:30Z")
It’s a necessity in digital audio recording to cut off anything higher than half the sample rate. If you do not, then you get a bunch of aliasing: lower pitches that aren’t actually there. This is based on the [Nyquist-Shannon sampling theorem](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nyquist%E2%80%93Shannon_sampling_theorem). To put it as simply as I can, digital audio is sampled in distinct chunks, and if the pitch is high enough, the air vibrates so fast that the each sample can’t detect all the vibrations. So it detects it as a lower pitch than it actually is. That said, we do usually sample at over twice the audible range these days. This is to avoid degradation as you apply digital filters. But, once the audio is fixed, we downsample to only a bit more than human hearing: 48k sample rate, so 24khz audio. Keeping the higher stuff that we can’t hear is extremely expensive, as the amount of data needed for accurate representation increases exponentially the higher the pitch. Then there’s audio compression. At a particular bitrate, you can cut off the high pitches that people can barely hear for a noticeable increase in quality in the pitches they can hear. YouTube’s audio quality varies based on the amount of bandwidth available, so it can actually even add more of a lowpass to increase perceived quality on the more important lower pitches. Finally, there’s your equipment. Sound cards now are generally really cheap bits added to a motherboard, or even part of a system on a chip. They aren’t the highest quality. So they may not accurately reproduce higher pitches–so it’s makes sense to cut them off. And your speaker quality determines how accurate the higher pitches are. Speakers are tuned for the frequencies we can hear. Point is, it’s not just that YouTube is cutting it off to save bandwidth. It’s a whole host of reasons why we stick to human audible frequencies in digital audio. ---
**Author:** ![Dr.Strangelove](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr.strangelove/32/6613_2.png) [@Dr.Strangelove](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Strangelove)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2017, 5:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/first-recordings-of-dangerous-sonic-noise-that-sickened-people-in-cuba/798689/16 "2017-10-13T05:03:37Z")
I say it’s a [mass psychogenic illness](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mass_psychogenic_illness). Someone got sick and heard a funny sound from a buzzing transformer or whatever, falsely associated the two and told everyone in the office, and suddenly dozens get the same symptoms. The symptoms are of course all the sort of vague thing one associates with fake illnesses. ---
**Author:** ![Lord\_Feldon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lord_feldon/32/341_2.png) [@Lord\_Feldon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lord_Feldon)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2017, 8:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/first-recordings-of-dangerous-sonic-noise-that-sickened-people-in-cuba/798689/17 "2017-10-13T08:05:18Z")
> [@](#): > > The recording being released by the AP has been digitally enhanced to increase volume and reduce background noise, but has not been otherwise altered. So the volume has been doctored, both absolutely and relative to any other noises that might provide some kind of context. So it’s just, what, a pitch? Has the AP attempted to do something like make some control recordings in other office environments, to make sure that this supposed attack noise isn’t just normal electronic noise that seems out of place because of the effort to “increase volume and reduce background noise”? ---
**Author:** ![Ann\_Hedonia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ann_hedonia/32/319_2.png) [@Ann\_Hedonia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ann_Hedonia)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2017, 12:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/first-recordings-of-dangerous-sonic-noise-that-sickened-people-in-cuba/798689/18 "2017-10-13T12:03:56Z")
> [@aceplace57](#): > > Well, the NY Daily News article no longer has the audio. The article I linked is still there. > > Gizmodo has the audio. > [Listen to the Sound That US Diplomats Heard When Attacked by a 'Sonic Device' in Cuba](https://www.google.com/amp/s/gizmodo.com/listen-to-the-sound-that-us-diplomats-heard-when-attack-1819412028/amp) > > I agree this a very localized device. Hidden in the building or perhaps on a outside wall. It’s probably radio controlled. So it can be remotely activated and shut off. Huh? I just opened your link to the Daily News article and listened to the audio clip which was prominently displayed at the top of the page. Then I continued reading the thread and saw this. Maybe they took it down and put it back? ---
**Author:** ![Evan\_Drake](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/b487fb/32.png) [@Evan\_Drake](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Evan_Drake)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2017, 12:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/first-recordings-of-dangerous-sonic-noise-that-sickened-people-in-cuba/798689/19 "2017-10-13T12:23:21Z")
> [@Dr.Strangelove](#): > > I say it’s a [mass psychogenic illness](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mass_psychogenic_illness). Someone got sick and heard a funny sound from a buzzing transformer or whatever, falsely associated the two and told everyone in the office, and suddenly dozens get the same symptoms. The symptoms are of course all the sort of vague thing one associates with fake illnesses. We can still blame Vlad, though ? ---
**Author:** ![Merneith](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/57b2e6/32.png) [@Merneith](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Merneith)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2017, 9:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/first-recordings-of-dangerous-sonic-noise-that-sickened-people-in-cuba/798689/20 "2017-10-13T21:39:37Z")
> [@Dr.Strangelove](#): > > I say it’s a [mass psychogenic illness](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mass_psychogenic_illness). Someone got sick and heard a funny sound from a buzzing transformer or whatever, falsely associated the two and told everyone in the office, and suddenly dozens get the same symptoms. The symptoms are of course all the sort of vague thing one associates with fake illnesses. This is kind of what I suspect, too, without knowing more about the “brain injuries”. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/first-recordings-of-dangerous-sonic-noise-that-sickened-people-in-cuba/798689.md?page=2)